Inquest set to start in Seattle police shooting of woodcarver

Published 10:00 pm, Sunday, January 9, 2011

An inquest into the deadly police shooting that saw woodcarver John T. Williams killed by a Seattle police officer was scheduled to begin Monday morning.

Williams, 50, was shot to death the afternoon of Aug. 30 by Seattle Officer Ian Birk. Birk shot Williams immediately after directing the Native-American man to drop a carving knife.

During the inquest, a six-member jury will hear testimony regarding the incident and the circumstances that surround it, and be asked to rule whether the shooting was justified. While the jury's decision carries no weight with regard to criminal or civil penalties, but can be used by prosecutors as they consider whether to bring charges against Birk.

King County District Court Judge Arthur Chapman was expected to lead the proceeding, which is expected to last through the week.

According to court filings in the matter, 31 witnesses are expected to be called to the stand, including Officer Birk and eight other law enforcement witnesses. A King County prosecutor will lead the questioning, while attorneys for Birk and Williams' family will be allowed to ask follow-up questions.

The jury will also be shown in-car video showing the immediate run up to the shooting, which occurred near Boren Avenue and Howell Street.

Birk can be heard yelling "Hey!" three times to Williams, then shouting "Put the knife down" three times during the rapid exchange.

The first shot appears to be fired five seconds from when Birk first told Williams to put the knife down. Court documents show the knife was closed when photographed by investigators.

Birk, who was hired the Seattle Police Department in 2008, was told in November to surrender his gun and badge. Birk, who fired four shots at Williams, was not armed with a Taser.

Williams was well known to police at the time of the shooting, though it was not clear whether Birk had any prior contact with him.